By Kelly Moore
One of my favorite things to do as a child was to crawl up on my Daddy’s lap and lay my head on his chest. He was a man of few words, gentle and compassionate. When I laid my head on his chest I could hear his heartbeat and feel his steady breathing. In those moments it felt like everything was right with the world.
My Daddy passed away when I was in college. I would sometimes imagine returning to that safe place in his lap. I longed to have that feeling of consistency and stability.
A few years later God used a Bible study on covenant to reveal something life-changing to me. When Jesus Christ my Savior died on the cross for my sins the curtain that separated God’s people form His presence in the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom. “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Matthew 27:50-51 (NIV). God tore that curtain. He wanted His people to know how much He desired a personal relationship with them and with us!
When God Almighty tore that curtain, He gave us a symbol of something that was very real. Jesus – God in human form – gave His life and immediately I was given the opportunity and privilege to become a child of the King and enter into God’s presence at any moment. “And so, dear brothers and sister, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.” Hebrews 10:20-21 (NLT). The God of the Universe drew near to me. My heavenly Father stood in the gap for the earthly father I no longer had.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified , for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV).
In my quiet moments I crawl into the lap of my God. I sink into the strong, never changing arms of my Heavenly Father and know that He will never leave me or forsake me. I hear the heartbeat of Jesus – God in flesh – the same heart that broke for me and my sins as He died on the cross. I feel the steady, reassuring breath of the Holy Spirit as He ministers to me and speaks to my soul. In His arms, I am home.
Earthly fathers, one of your most important callings is to guide your children to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. They will understand the love of God by seeing it lived out in your life. Your strength, justice, consistency, and unconditional love will give them a picture of God. Your actions, reactions, sacrifice, and service to them, your wife, and others will provide them a living example of Jesus Christ. Your prayer and dependence on God’s will in your life will help them to depend fully on Him. They will love and accept God naturally and with a greater understanding because they have seen and heard God lived out in you.
Mothers, as we try our best to show an example of Christ in our lives, we must also be diligent in prayer for our husbands as they do the same.
May God bless all fathers today as they guide their families in faith.
Happy Father’s Day.
Copyright © 2015, Kelly Moore, all rights reserved, Reprinted with permission from the author. Photo courtesy of Kelly Moore. All rights reserved. Billy Graham quote obtained from Pinterest. Scripture from The Holy Bible, New International Version and New Language Translation.
Kelly is a follower of Christ, wife, mom, teacher, musician, and artist. She is an observer of people and nature and is working on how to truly “live love”. She talks to birds and butterflies, and has been known to rescue baby snakes. She loves to get her hands dirty in the flower garden, and can lay on the sidewalk at night and watch the moon and stars for hours. Kelly just loves living!
You can follow Kelly at
http://www.livinglovewithkelly.com
https://www.facebook.com/livinglovewithkelly
